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Local govt needs rules to end suffering to Adivasi people

Badshah tells international conclave

Staff Correspondent
Lawmaker Fazle Hossain Badshah yesterday said the indigenous people living in plain land would continue to suffer across the country unless the local government system is guided by specific rules to deal with it.
“The suffering of Adivasi people, especially those who are Living in plain land, will > continue if it is not described in the local government system what would be our outlook to them or how to deal with Adivasi people," said Badshah at the panel discussion of a two-day internationalconclave.
The international conclave titled "Discrimination, exclusion and marginalisation: diversity perspective," jointly organised by Research and Development Collective and ActionAid, began at the Biam auditorium.
Dhaka University Vice Chancellor Dr AAMS Arefin Siddique inaugurated the
conclave.
"Beside removing discrimination, fundamentalism and militancy also' have to be eradicated from the society to ensure rights of the indigenous people as the fundamentalists do not tolerate any diversity," said Prof Kabir Chowdhury in his speech as the special guest at the inaugural ceremony.
He also said it is the government who has to take the initiative to end discrimination against the indigenous people and development of the people will not be ensured unless their economic condition is improved.
Prof Mesbah Kamal gave the address of welcome at the inaugural session. A number of panel discussions on different topics were held simultaneously focusing on Dalit, tea workers, sex workers and deprived and disadvantaged marginalised people, including Adivasi people throughout the day.
“Generally we do not con-
sider indigenous people as citizen of the country as they are always deprived of important citizen rights, especially communication, power and treatment. There is no example that die indigenous people are given allotment on any Khas land and deprivation continues by the state," Badshah said.
"The indigenous people do not have any other option but to wage a movement as they live under many social pressures. They even cannot maintain their cultural and religious rights and rituals freely due to the pressure," he added.
Referring to the Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace agreement, Badshah said only implementation of the agreement will not end their all problems as the problems are multifaceted.
"Ending discrimination is not enough as it would equate their condition with the mainstream population. More proactive measures must be taken
to ensure rights of indigenous people living in plain land," said Prasenjit Chakma, a representative from UNDP
“The problem concerning indigenous people s livelihood is linked with the government market policy. There is no way to ignore the fact that besides aggression on their land, aggression on indigenous market has also taken place," said RIB executive Director Dr Meghna Guha Thakurta.
She said land is more important for them than Bangalees as it is related to their identity.
Syed-ul-Alam Kazal from Ashrai presented the keynote paper titled "Ethnicity and identity: Challenging discrimination, exclusion and marginalisation" while Prof Dr Buddhadev Chaudhuri of Calcutta University, Prof Amena Hossain of Dhaka University and Prof Dr Ratan Khasnabis of Calcutta University presented theme speeches.